Reggie Bush was one of the most electrifying players ever to play college football and one of the main reasons for USC’s dominance in the early 2000s.
The Trojans won back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004, the latter of which was later stripped by the NCAA over a “lack of institutional control,” a charge many have blasted as ridiculous and unjust.
In 2005, Bush lit up college football to the tune of 1,740 yards and 19 TDs en route to winning the Heisman, an award which he was later stripped of after the NCAA ruled Bush had received improper benefits. As a result, the NCAA also vacated Bush’s 2005 season.
Yet nothing was ever done to then-head coach Pete Carroll despite the charges levied against the program.
That’s another reason why the NCAA’s decision to vacate Bush’s season and the Heisman committee forcing Bush to return the trophy has remained a hotly debated topic, with many, including Bush and his family, believing the USC star did nothing wrong.
In July 2021, after player compensation finally became legal in college sports through NIL, Bush’s situation resurfaced.
Support for him swelled once again and many called for the NCAA to restore his name and for the Heisman to be given back to him. But the NCAA said no and it appeared the matter was done.
Until now.
Today, Bush’s legal team is expected to file a defamation lawsuit against the NCAA.
“The lawsuit is based on the NCAA maliciously attacking his character through a completely false and highly offensive statement that was widely reported in the media and substantially and irreparably damaged his reputation,” according to a statement from law firm McCathern, PLLC.
The statement in question was one issued by the NCAA on July 28th, 2021 after NIL went into effect and calls for Bush’s name and Heisman to be restored were revived.
“Although college athletes can now receive benefits from their names, images and likenesses through activities like endorsements and appearances, NCAA rules still do not permit pay-for-play type arrangements,” said an NCAA spokesperson in that statement. “The NCAA infractions process exists to promote fairness in college sports. The rules that govern fair play are voted on, agreed to and expected to be upheld by all NCAA member schools.”
Bush returned the trophy in 2010 after the NCAA found that he accepted improper benefits, including cash and travel expenses. After his 2005 season was wiped from the books, the Heisman Trophy Trust deemed he was ineligible for the award since he technically didn’t have a 2005 season.
But his supporters say that if the NCAA restores his record, the Heisman should then give Bush his trophy back.
It’s been a long, frustrating process for Bush, which included a mandate that the former Trojan had to disassociate himself from the university for 10 years (it ended in 2020).
Now he and his team are fighting back.
“The NCAA’s statement is completely false and highly offensive,” said the McCathern statement. “The NCAA knew Mr. Bush was never even accused of, involved in, much less sanctioned for any ‘pay-for-play arrangement,’ which never occurred.”
We’ll keep up updated on this story.
